Elianto is a 1996 novel written by Stefano Benni, one of the wittiest and most famous writers in Italy, whose works were also translated in other languages

The story is set in "Tristalia" (a crapsack parody of 1996 Italy), where the "Nova Repubblica" is ruled by the 20 presidents (parodies of various italians politicians and actors) and the all knowing Zentrum. The various free Counties must win certain "challenges" with the government of the Nova Repubblica in order to keep their indipendence. However, the champion of County Eight, Elianto is currently recovered because of a mysterious illness called the "Sweet Plague". However, he can dream of mysterious worlds which can be reached with a mysterious "Nootic" Map.

In this background, the book follows the stories of three groups of people who must venture these worlds:

The first group, the "Brave Kids" composed by Elianto's friends Boccadimiele, Rangio and Iri: Using a Nootic Map found in a Eel's Can they travel to the Alterean Worlds in order to find a cure to Elianto's disease.

The second group is composed by Fuku Tiger Eyes, a Cloud Warrior and the ''tiny'' yogi Pat and Visa from the Mountain County, who must retrieve the legendary Cloud Warrior Sad Tiger who went in voluntary exile in the Alterean Worlds, so that he can fight the champion of Tristalia Rollo Napalm.

Third group: the three Devils Ebenezer, Carmilla and Brot are send by Lucifer himself to find the legendary beast known as Kopfs, who can destroy the Zentrum (who's removing the free will, and thus the challenge of tempting mortals) from the people of Tristalia.

Elianto contains Examples of:

Angst: Sad Tiger went in great depression and left for other worlds after accidentally killing a cat with an arrow.

Affably Evil: The devils and even Lucifer, who's "not more wicked than humans themselves".

And I Must Scream: Purgatory is actually a huge building with many rooms, and there the souls are forced to do the same action and always the same action (eg: reading the same book, eating only pizza, and so on) and can have only two pauses for the tea (which sucks). Thankfully, it's not eternal.

Apocalypse How: The Desert world of Yasmerius was once a great nation and now, after an unclear nuclear disaster, is a cold desert inhabitated only by bands of cannibals and locusts.

Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: Rollo's ambitions are to win the fight, take over Tristalia, eventually take over all the other states in the world.... and finally learn how to tie his own shoes. In that order.

Blessed with Suck: Light Tiger, the chief abbot of the Cloud Warriors has reached such a greated illumination that risks to fly to the ceiling if he doesn't think "earthly" thoughts. (That include reading a manga called "Horny Schoolgirls".)

Brainwashed: Many people from Tristalia. Others live under fear. Even Elianto's family. They eventually manage to remove the control chips and return to Elianto.

The Brute: Rollo Napalm, the strongest fighter from Tristalia and champion of "Wicked fight".

Came Back Wrong: Trimaster, a cyborg-golem-zombie version of the deceased Rollo Napalm.

Deal with the Devil: The legendary musicist Snailhand Slim did one with a strange man named "Toad" Brown alias Brot. Lucifer at one point complaints about such deals, stating that now making them is far too easy as all mortals are already oriented toward evil.

Dr. Jerk: Dr Siliconi, a plastic surgeon who only cares for the money and would like to turn the clinic (Villa Bacilla) in a modern superclinic of plastic surgery.

"Remember, a patient without a kidney can easly live, a man without cash can't!"

Dream World: Mnemonia, where all the memories, gifts and dreams are kept.

Fire and Brimstone Hell: Partly subverted, true hell is actually a huge traffic jam with cars full of sinners which proceed slowly. Oh, and the sinners are sometimes bothered by devils disguised as annoying hitchhikers.

Gag Nose: One of Posidon's pirates, "Narvhal" Peter, who even use it to stab several opponents to death.

Gag Penis: During Carmilla's strip number, we see many, squicky examples of this, including a subversion (a huge, black man who reveals a six centimetres long round penis.)

Gasshole: Brot even uses his mega-farts to fly straight. It turns in deadly Fartillery in battle.

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